This page describes the purpose and requirements for obtaining the Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Archaeology from the Center for the Study of Cognitive Archaeology at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). These procedures are governed by the policy requirements of the UCCS College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (LAS).

Quick Links:

• Purpose
• Certification Requirements
• Curriculum
• Certificate Administration
  
• Applications
  
• Exit Process
  

Courses required for the certificate may be applied to degree programs as determined by the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Philosophy for students meeting all requirements for regular admission to those programs.

UCCS students seeking to complete the certificate may seek financial aid, with eligibility to be governed by existing requirements.

At the completion of certificate requirements and degree requirements, notation of certificate completion shall be added to student transcripts.

Purpose

The Undergraduate Certificate in Cognitive Archaeology provides students at UCCS and throughout the world the opportunity to study the evolutionary development of cognition in Homo sapiens sapiens and other primates through a variety of courses in the UCCS Departments of Psychology, Anthropology, and Philosophy. Cognitive archaeology is a relatively new multidisciplinary field that applies and integrates concepts from the more traditional fields of cognitive psychology, cognitive neurosciences, neuropsychology, anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and philosophy. Cognitive archaeology considers the origins and adaptive evolutionary purposes of cognitive processes and capabilities such as concept formation, spatial cognition, social cognition, language, symbolic structures, and working memory.

At the present time, this certificate is unique. By offering the certificate through courses taught on campus and online, UCCS is able to offer the certificate to students throughout the world. This educational opportunity is invaluable to students majoring in a variety of disciplines, including psychology, anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, cognitive studies, and interdisciplinary studies.

Certification Requirements

1. Students shall be currently enrolled at UCCS or concurrently enrolled at an accredited university.
2. Students shall complete twelve (12) upper-division credit hours (two core and two elective courses) offered by the UCCS Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Philosophy, covering the core and elective courses listed under Cirriculum.
3. Students accepted into the certificate program shall maintain a 3.00 GPA once undergraduate courses are started.
4. Complete a written portfolio for review, consisting of one sample of written work from each class.
5. Complete evaluation and suggestions for program development.

Curriculum

The following table lists the core and elective curriculum for Undergraduate Certification in Cognitive Archaeology through the Center for Conginitive Archaeology at UCCS.

Certificate Administration

1. Policy and program administration for the certificate shall fall under the purview of the Center for the Study of Cognitive Archaeology at UCCS.
2. Student Information System (SIS) requirements
   • The certificate program shall be housed on SIS with the "CERT" designation for degree program. In addition, the certificate, eligibility, and curriculum requirements shall be listed in the Official Catalogue.
   • Upon acceptance into the certificate program, students shall be coded in SIS with the "CERT" designation for the duration of their degree-seeking status.
   • Student status shall be updated in SIS after the certificate has been completed and awarded (i.e., a student's status shall be changed to from ‘classified' to ‘unclassified').
3. Students accepted into the certificate program shall maintain a 3.00 GPA once undergraduate courses are started.
4. Courses required for the certificate may be applied to degree programs as determined by the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Philosophy for students meeting all requirements for regular admission to those programs.
5. UCCS students seeking to complete the certificate may seek financial aid, with eligibility to be governed by existing requirements.
6. At the completion of certificate requirements and degree requirements, notation of certificate completion shall be added to student transcripts. In order for transcript notation to be implemented, the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, or Philosophy shall notify Admissions and Records that a student is to be designated for the certificate after completion of all course work.

Applications

1. Admission to the certificate program shall comply with all requirements set by the College of Letters, Arts and sciences. As a minimum, students shall:
2. Be enrolled in an undergraduate degree at UCCS or another accredited institution.
   • Have a grade point average (GPA) that satisfies one of the following criteria: i. GPA of 3.00 or higher.
   • Completed 15 semester hours of relevant undergraduate course work at an accredited university with a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
3. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Allow four weeks for response. Applications should include the following:
   • Completed admission application form;
   • Personal statement (maximum of 2 pages) describing interest in the program (i.e., objectives and goals for enrolling in the program, whether the certificate relates to current or future work plans, previous work or volunteer activities e relevant to the certificate, educational background and experience as it relates to this certificate program);
   • Current resume;
   • Official transcript(s) of previous education, with minimum 3.00 GPA
4. Once notified of acceptance in the certificate program, students shall apply to the UCCS Extended Studies Program through the Extended Studies Admissions Process Web site.

Exit Process
The certificate shall be awarded (and notation of the student's transcript initiated) upon satisfaction of all requirements. Allow four weeks for transcript annotation and certificate mailing.

1. Official transcript showing the completion of all degree requirements.
2. Completion of courses required for the certificate (twelve upper-division credits, including two core and two elective courses);
3. Portfolio for review, consisting of one sample of written work from each class;
4. Completed evaluation and suggestions for program development.

Letters of application, inquiries, and portfolios should be sent to: